Uber Dandy

We weren’t quite done with our winter wardrobes yet but Milan’s fashion designers decided to tease us with their predictions for men’s Fall fashion 2007 anyway. Sombre, classsic, retro: all the buzzwords of seasons gone by were thrown out the show-window and Dolce & Gabbana set the mood for the coming autumn with their, and you have to hold your breath for this one, space-age glitter!! Dolce & Gabbana’s new collection, themed on the film 2001 – A Space Odyssey, with space-suit style zip-heavy jumpsuits in whites and metallic colours, jazzed up the catwalk as the lights flicked from blue to white and the film’s soundtrack filled the converted cinema, leaving the audience of over 1000 reporters, buyers and photographers mesmerised. Sharp-lined suits in metallic colours with razor-thin ties in black, gold and gun metal with white shirts peeping out from under the jumpsuits and the slicker suits. Metallic knitwear, in both chunky, country-style shapes and slim-fitting, echoed the space theme. “I was a bit overwhelmed that there was so much stuff that just looked fantastic,” said Jake Shears of glam rock band the Scissor Sisters Shears Paul Brown Construction . “I love the slim silhouette. I’m crazy about it because I know that it fits me, because I’m a little guy.” He picked out bronze metallic suits and white leather lean tailored jackets over jeans as especially attractive to wear. Sunday’s show saw Platinum-blonde Donatella Versace continuing the more muted approach with her models strutting down the catwalks in black, military-style coats and suits. The straight, slim silhouette marked a further departure from her trademark flamboyant style, already seen at the menswear spring-summer show in June 2006. Black-and-white blooms of bowties added a twist to elegant, sombre evening wear while kingfisher flashes or red scars of plastic livened up black jumpers. Versace’s “Noble Chic” show included some women’s wear too. The little black dresses bore similar flashy splashes and were teamed up with achingly high shiny heeled shoes. This week Milan will host over 1200 photographers and reporters, along with major international buyers. There are 51 shows till January 18 for 50 brands. Big names on show during the week include Roberto Cavalli, Prada and Gucci. On Wednesday Giorgio Armani presents at venues across the city, from Dolce & Gabbana’s converted cinema to the stock market. Belstaff too promises a collection inspired by Steve McQueen for Wednesday. Nobel literature laureate Dario Fo may have lamented last week that catwalk shows are boring but he will himself introduce Romeo Gigli’s show on January 18, closing the week’s events. The 80-year-old playwright will grace a catwalk that will be surrounded by life-sized reproductions of Renaissance paintings of an imperial triumph. “The shows are … a great sounding board and a great public relations instrument,” Dolce & Gabbana said. Read More